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Katie Richgels

Dr. Richgels is the Chief of the Ecology and Epidemiology Branch at the National Wildlife Health Center.

She received her Ph.D. from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2014 and her Bachelor's degree in 2005 from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Since joining the USGS in 2016, she has devoted her career to supporting project leaders who study wildlife diseases with the goal of helping state and federal partners better manage wildlife disease.

Professional Experience

  • 2016 – Present Chief, Ecology and Epidemiology Branch, U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI

  • 2016 – 2014 Postdoctoral Researcher, U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, and University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, WI

  • 2014 – 2011 Graduate Research Fellow, Graduate Research Fellowship Program, National Science Foundation, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO

  • 2011 – 2008 Teaching and Research Assistant, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO

  • 2006 –2007 Spatial Analyst, First American Spatial Solutions, Madison, WI

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado at Boulder, 2014

  • Certificate, GIS, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 2006

  • B.NS., Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 2005

Affiliations and Memberships

  • Bsal Task Force Decision Support Team

  • Interagency Committee on Invasive Terrestrial Animals and Pathogens, Invasive Pathogens Subcommittee

  • Black-footed Ferret Recovery Implementation Team – Executive Committee

Science and Products

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two photos of same coral. Left coral mostly covered in live tissue, with dead section. Right photo: dead coral covered in algae

Research in response to Florida’s emerging coral disease

Coral reefs are both ecologically and economically important, serving as nurseries for fisheries, protecting the coastline from storm surges, and generating income from tourism. Since 2014, a wide variety of corals have been dying from unexplained causes throughout South Florida with mortalities ranging from North Miami to the Florida Keys.
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Ecosystems, Fish & Wildlife Disease, National Wildlife Health Center
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Research in response to Florida’s emerging coral disease

Coral reefs are both ecologically and economically important, serving as nurseries for fisheries, protecting the coastline from storm surges, and generating income from tourism. Since 2014, a wide variety of corals have been dying from unexplained causes throughout South Florida with mortalities ranging from North Miami to the Florida Keys.
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Image: Northern Pintail Ducks

Avian Influenza

Avian influenza is a viral disease caused by various strains of avian influenza viruses that can be classified as low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) or highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). It remains a global disease with potential high consequence with the potential to threaten wildlife, agriculture, and human health.
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Ecosystems, Fish & Wildlife Disease, National Wildlife Health Center
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Avian Influenza

Avian influenza is a viral disease caused by various strains of avian influenza viruses that can be classified as low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) or highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). It remains a global disease with potential high consequence with the potential to threaten wildlife, agriculture, and human health.
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Flowers blooming in prairie

Employment Opportunities

The USGS National Wildlife Health Center offers employment, externship, and volunteer opportunities in the field of wildlife health.
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National Wildlife Health Center
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Employment Opportunities

The USGS National Wildlife Health Center offers employment, externship, and volunteer opportunities in the field of wildlife health.
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NDV Study in cormorants

Epidemiological Services

Professionals at the NWHC include wildlife biologists, veterinarians, statisticians, epidemiologists, and informatics specialists. This multidisciplinary group conducts investigations and disease ecology studies of emerging and recurring priority wildlife diseases, maintains and analyzes comprehensive information on wildlife disease events, and provides response and management consultation and...
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Ecosystems, Fish & Wildlife Disease, National Wildlife Health Center
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Epidemiological Services

Professionals at the NWHC include wildlife biologists, veterinarians, statisticians, epidemiologists, and informatics specialists. This multidisciplinary group conducts investigations and disease ecology studies of emerging and recurring priority wildlife diseases, maintains and analyzes comprehensive information on wildlife disease events, and provides response and management consultation and...
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Plague causes fragmentation of prairie dog colonies in Conata Basin, South Dakota from 1993 - 2015

This data was used to investigate the invasion of a non-native disease, plague, to a keystone species, prairie dogs, in Conata Basin, South Dakota, United States. We documented the resulting extent of fragmentation and habitat loss in western grasslands using colony boundaries mapped by the USFS every one to three years from 1993 - 2015. Specifically, we assessed how the arrival of plague in 2008,
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Ecosystems, Fish & Wildlife Disease, National Wildlife Health Center

Sylvatic Plague Vaccine field trials flea data

hese data were collected as part of a field trial to test the efficacy of a sylvatic plague vaccine (see Rocke et al., 2017 for details). Vaccine and control plots were selected randomly from the available sites at each location. At least 1 week and no more than 2 months post-baiting each year, local collaborators captured, marked and sampled prairie dogs for a minimum of 3 trap days. Both plots
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Ecosystems, Fish & Wildlife Disease, National Wildlife Health Center

Impact of the oral Sylvatic Plague Vaccine on Non-target Small Rodents: Data

In 2013, a large blinded, paired placebo-controlled field trial for the prairie dog oral sylvatic plague vaccine started in the Western US. On 17 paired plots, vaccine and placebo plots, small rodents were trapped annually for 3-5 consecutive nights (when weather allowed). Up on capture, we documented the trap numbers and the processed animals. We noted standard biological information (species, se
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Ecosystems, Fish & Wildlife Disease, National Wildlife Health Center

SPV field trials bait uptake data

These data were collected as part of a field trial to test the effectiveness of a sylvatic plague vaccine (see Rocke et al., 2017 for details). Vaccine and control plots were selected randomly from the available pairs at each location. Baits containing Rhodamine B, a biomarker, were distributed at each plot. At least 1 week and no more than 2 months post-baiting each year, local collaborators cap
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Ecosystems, Fish & Wildlife Disease, National Wildlife Health Center

Determinants of Pseudogymnoascus destructans within bat hibernacula: data

This dataset includes data used to summarize trends and identify best-fit models to explain patterns in presence-absence and abundance of Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) in environmental substrates and on bats within six bat hibernacula at different stages of white-nose syndrome (WNS). Data relating to environmental substrates include: dates and relative spatial locations of samples collected wi
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Ecosystems, Fish & Wildlife Disease, National Wildlife Health Center

Field efficacy trials with sylvatic plague vaccine

These data were collected as part of a field trial to test the efficacy of a sylvatic plague vaccine. Treatment and control sites were selected randomly from the available sites at each location. Site pairs were a minimum of 20 acres, (with a few exceptions). Prairie dog trapping took place a minimum of two weeks post-baiting and trapping procedures were approved by the NWHC Animal Care and Use
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Ecosystems, Fish & Wildlife Disease, National Wildlife Health Center
Filter Total Items: 21

Evaluation of regulatory action and surveillance as preventive risk-mitigation to an emerging global amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal)

The emerging amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) is a severe threat to global urodelan (salamanders, newts, and related taxa) biodiversity. Bsal has not been detected, to date, in North America, but the risk is high because North America is one of the global hotspots for urodelan biodiversity. The North American and United States response to the discovery of Bsal in Europe
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) not detected in an intensive survey of wild North American amphibians

The salamander chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans [Bsal]) is causing massive mortality of salamanders in Europe. The potential for spread via international trade into North America and the high diversity of salamanders has catalyzed concern about Bsal in the U.S. Surveillance programs for invading pathogens must initially meet challenges that include low rates of occurrence on the l
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

An invasive disease, sylvatic plague, increases fragmentation of black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies

ContextA disease can be a source of disturbance, causing population declines or extirpations, altering species interactions, and affecting habitat structure. This is particularly relevant for diseases that affect keystone species or ecosystem engineers, leading to potentially cascading effects on ecosystems.ObjectiveWe investigated the invasion of a non-native disease, plague, to a keystone specie
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Ecosystems, National Wildlife Health Center

Safe work practices for working with wildlife

Most wildlife biologists, technicians, and veterinarians complete their tasks safely and uneventfully every day. However, some significant risks exist in this line of work, and injuries, illnesses, and accidental deaths among wildlife workers do occur. Aviation accidents (airplane and helicopter), drownings, and car and truck accidents are the most common causes of fatalities among wildlife worker
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Ecosystems, National Wildlife Health Center

Human dimensions considerations in wildlife disease management

In 1943, Aldo Leopold observed that the real problem of wildlife management is not how to handle wildlife, but how to manage humans. As with any other aspect of wildlife management, social sciences can improve understanding the human dimensions of wildlife disease management (WDM). Human activities have accelerated the emergence of wildlife diseases, and human concerns about the ecological, social
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Ecosystems, National Wildlife Health Center

Inactivation of viable surrogates for the select agents virulent Newcastle disease virus and highly pathogenic avian influenza virus using either commercial lysis buffer or heat

Introduction:Federal Select Agent Program regulations require laboratories to document a validated procedure for inactivating select agents prior to movement outside registered space. Avian influenza viruses and virulent Newcastle disease virus (vNDV) are cultured in chicken amnio-allantoic fluid (AAF), but the efficacy of commercial lysis buffers to inactivate viruses in protein-rich media has no
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Ecosystems, National Wildlife Health Center

Successful molecular detection studies require clear communication among diverse research partners

Molecular detection techniques are powerful tools used in ecological applications ranging from diet analyses to pathogen surveillance. Research partnerships that use these tools often involve collaboration among professionals with expertise in field biology, laboratory techniques, quantitative modeling, wildlife disease, and natural resource management. However, in many cases, each of these collab
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

One Health: A perspective from wildlife and environmental health sectors

Loss of biodiversity, habitat fragmentation and pollution, and subsequent degradation of natural environments threaten the range of ecosystem services that support all life on this planet. These changes, among others, are also driving the emergence of infectious diseases, with negative health outcomes for humans, animals, and our shared environment. Historically, interventions aimed at human and a
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Ecosystems, National Wildlife Health Center

Response to “Prepublication communication of research results”: The need for a coordinated wildlife disease surveillance laboratory network

In “Prepublication Communication of Research Results”, Adams et al. (2018) outline the importance of timeliness in providing scientific results with consequential implications for wildlife management to responsible government agencies. The authors discuss various impediments to sharing of scientific results and provide well-reasoned arguments why scientists should not fear that sharing these resul
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Ecosystems, Fish & Wildlife Disease, National Wildlife Health Center

USGS-NWHC Quarterly Wildlife Mortality Report - January 2019

The USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) Quarterly Mortality Report provides brief summaries of epizootic mortality and morbidity events by quarter. The write-ups, highlighting epizootic events and other wildlife disease topics of interest, are published in the Wildlife Disease Association quarterly newsletter. A link is provided in this WDA newsletter to the Wildlife Health Information Sha
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Ecosystems, National Wildlife Health Center

Identifying management-relevant research priorities for responding to disease-associated amphibian declines

A research priority can be defined as a knowledge gap that, if resolved, identifies the optimal course of conservation action. We (a group of geographically distributed and multidisciplinary research scientists) used tools from nominal group theory and decision analysis to collaboratively identify and prioritize information needs within the context of disease-associated amphibian decline, in order
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Ecosystems, Water Resources, Fish & Wildlife Disease, Wildlife Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Impact of sylvatic plague vaccine on non-target small rodents in grassland ecosystems

Oral vaccination is an emerging management strategy to reduce the prevalence of high impact infectious diseases within wild animal populations. Plague is a flea-borne zoonosis of rodents that often decimates prairie dog (Cynomys spp.) colonies in the western USA. Recently, an oral sylvatic plague vaccine (SPV) was developed to protect prairie dogs from plague and aid recovery of the endangered bla
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Ecosystems, Fish & Wildlife Disease, National Wildlife Health Center

Pre-USGS Publications

Richgels, K.L.D., R.E. Russell, G.M. Bron, T.E. Rocke. 2016. Evaluation of Yersinia pestis transmission pathways for sylvatic plague in black-tailed prairie dogs in the Western U.S. Online First DOI: 10.1007/s10393-016-1133-9.
Richgels, K.L.D., R.E. Russell, M.J. Adams, C.L. White, E.H.C. Grant. 2016. Spatial variation in risk and consequence of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans introduction in the USA. Royal Society Open Science 3:150616.
White, C.L., M.J. Forzan, A.P. Pessier, M.C. Allender, J.R. Ballard, A. Catenazzi, H, Fenton, A. Martel, F. Pasmans, D.L. Miller, R.J. Ossiboff, K.L.D. Richgels, J.L. Kerby. 2016. Amphibian: A case definition and diagnostic criteria for Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans chytridiomycosis. Herpetological Review 47:207-209.
Richgels, K.L.D., J.T. Hoverman, P.T.J. Johnson. 2013. Evaluating the role of regional and local processes in structuring a larval trematode metacommunity of Helisoma trivolvis. Ecography 36:854-863. DOI 10.1111/j.1600-0587.2013.07868.x
Peterson, A.C., K.L.D. Richgels, P.T.J. Johnson, and V.J. McKenzie. 2013. Investigating the dispersal routes used by an invasive amphibian, Lithobates catesbeianus, in human-dominated landscapes. Biological Invasions 15:2179-2191. DOI 10.1007/s10530-013-0442-y.
Johnson, P.T.J., D.L. Preston, J.T. Hoverman, K.L.D. Richgels. 2013. Biodiversity reduces disease through functional changes in host community composition. Nature 494:230-233.
Hoverman, J.T., J.R. Mihaljevic, K.L.D. Richgels, J.L. Kirby, P.T.J. Johnson. 2012. Widespread co-occurrence of virulent pathogens within California amphibian communities. EcoHealth 9:288-292.
Johnson P.T.J., J.T. Hoverman, V.J. McKenzie, A.R. Blaustein, K.L.D. Richgels. 2012. Urbanization and wetland communities: applying metacommunity theory to understand the local and landscape effects. Journal of Applied Ecology 50:34-42.
Johnson P.T.J., D.L. Preston, J.T. Hoverman, J.S. Henderson, S.H. Paull, K.L.D. Richgels, M.D. Redmond. 2012. Species diversity reduces parasite infection through cross-generational effects on host abundance. Ecology 93:56-64.
Johnson, P.T.J., J.M. Chase, K.L. Dosch, R.B. Hartson, J.A. Gross, D.J. Larson, D.R. Sutherland, and S.R. Carpenter. 2007. Aquatic eutrophication promotes pathogenic infection in amphibians. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science 104:15781-86.
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A Unified Research Strategy for Disease Management

As wildlife diseases increase globally, an understanding of host-pathogen relationships can elucidate avenues for management and improve conservation...

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